General Information
| Relevant operative para(s) of Res/Rec | Activities Overview | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3b
|
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
|
We have conducted educational activities, including webinars and exhibitions, throughout the year to raise public awareness of plastic pollution. We also work with our local branches and members to organize birdwatching events combined with litter clean-ups. We will continue to engage in public education and awareness-raising activities on this issue.
|
On-going
|
|
3a
|
Scientific/technical activities
|
We conducted research on the foraging range of Tristram's storm-petrel to investigate seabird exposure to plastic-associated chemicals in relation to marine plastic pollution.
We also conducted a public participation survey to collect information on the impacts of plastic on birds, such as ingestion and entanglement, by asking participants to submit photographs. |
Completed
|
|
3c
|
Policy influencing/advocacy
|
As a member of an NGO network working to address plastic pollution, Wild Bird Society of Japan has advocated to the Japanese government for stronger measures to tackle plastic pollution. In December 2025, we joined other members of the NGO network and supporting organizations in submitting an open letter, signed by a total of 135 organizations, calling for a general ban, by 2030 at the latest, on the production, import, distribution and sale of artificial turf, a significant source of microplastic pollution.
In July 2026, we submitted an urgent call to the Japanese government, signed by a total of 33 organizations, calling for substantial reductions in single-use plastics and stronger regulation of hazardous chemicals in plastics. The call was prompted by the naphtha shortage resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. |
On-going
|
| IUCN Members | IUCN Commissions | IUCN Secretariat | Other non-IUCN related organisations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Bird Society of Japan ( Japan )
|
No
|
| Challenges / lessons learned | Description |
|---|---|
|
Insufficient / lack of resources
|
While birdwatching and clean-up activities are a strength of our organization, they are largely operated by volunteers at our local branches. As a result, we face challenges in expanding these activities and accommodating large numbers of participants |
|
Insufficient / lack of resources
|
The remote location of the survey site, a small uninhabited island where the seabird colony is located, made access difficult, and the number of surveys was limited by ocean conditions. |
|
Other (please specify)
|
In the public participation survey, most of the reported cases involved birds entangled in fishing line, suggesting that such cases are relatively easy for people to detect in the field. This indicates that the survey results may be subject to observer bias toward impacts that are more visible. |